Charging stations supply energy for electric vehicles, like gas stations do for conventional vehicles.
There are some different types of charging stations. E-Bikes e.g. can be charged at an domestic wall socket.

Contents

How to map

Add a node at the centre of the charging station. Add the tag amenity=charging_station to the node.

Tags to use in combination

Like the amenity=fuel tag, it is helpful to add the location of the amenity=charging_station. At a later time, specific details of the amenity=* can be added. Charging cars takes time depending on the maximum power output of the station, the number of vehicles currently charging and the charging level of the battery. Providing the number of vehicles that can be charged at the same time through the capacity=* tag will be the next most useful tag.

Electric vehicle charging is such a young market that the standards are changing rapidly. Mappers that do not use the technology will have a hard time sorting the details of the sockets, voltage, amperage, and billing networks. Operators of electric vehicles may need a toolkit of adapters for the types of sockets and charging systems that are used in their local area. A network of Tesla Supercharger Stations on Wikipedia cross the US as of November 2014. Tesla Motors is challenging other high speed DC charging standards with these stations.

Authentication

Some charging stations require authentication, even if charging is for free. Different operators use different authentication mechanisms for their charging stations. Some charging stations even support several authentication mechanisms, and the user can choose which to use.

Sockets at the side of the charging station. There is on each side one schuko and one type2 socket:

The text in the display changes and informs about amperage and the authentication via SMS or RFID membership card. The covers on the sockets get unlocked after a successful authentication, so you can plug in the charging cable.

The socket is attached to a high hanging hose on each side of the of the charging station:

Like a regular US gas pump, the connector can be picked up before using your payment card.

Space for more examples

United States

The following table provides an example of tags to consider and how they can be added to a node when mapping a amenity=charging_station. The first row of the table shows a minimal set of useful tags to add to the amenity=charging_station node. Building up a detailed set of tags may take more time to gather than you have time for during an area survey.

Adding just the amenity=charging_station tag to the node adds the amenity to the map. The capacity=* is useful because of long "fueling" times. Some stations support two or more "nozzles". The capacity=1 tag states how many cars can be served from the station at the same time.

The SemaConnect Charge Pro station provides a status beacon to approaching cars. A blue status color means that the charger is available. A green status color means that the charger is in use.

The type of vehicles are another set of useful tags to add to the minimum station information. Pedestrians are not allowed in the parking garage where these units are located. Bicycle and scooters more than likely will not be supported. Adding the covered=* tag helps the driver find more desirable charging locations.

SemaConnect/SemaCharge encourages building owners and employers to install charging stations. In this case the operator is the Phoenix Plaza Building. The name=* tag may be useful for network identification. Some of the possible networks are

AeroVironment

Blink

eVgo

SemaCharge

GE WattStation

ChargePoint

One of the confusing aspects of the network is the network used for billing or location purposes.

One of the confusing aspects of these charging stations are the payment options. It looks like the network sets some of the payment options. Some networks allow guests but charge more for each unit dispensed. A network may also provide 1-800 operator payment, rfid "tap" charging, mobile phone applications, or a web site as a way to reduce the number of network cards that you must carry.

The fee=yes tag was added along with a tag for the required parking building fee. There are some sites that do not charge a fee for the "fill-up". The charging station may be more of a marketing feature of the site than a revenue generating station. In this case, fee=no would be useful. You would want to add one of the authentication tags. The payment account is used to safely turn on this system to protect against electrocution. In addition to the "fill-up" fee, a parking:fee=yes tag was added. The first three hours are $1 an hour. After the first three hours, then rate changes to $3 an hour.

Two more useful tags at this site. The station reference number starts with #901981. One unit has an A and the other has a B added to differentiate the two units. A wheelchair=* tag was added. The stations are wheelchair accessible. The parking spaces have diagonal yellow strips making the required room for a wheel chair.